Fitness model Jennifer Nicole Lee has built a career around her incredibly toned body which has inspired people around the world to get fit and shed weight.
But the 36-year-old's personal weight loss journey was anything but easy.
The mother of two sons had tipped 200lbs on the scales after the birth of her second child. Shown here in the midst of her hard work, she dropped more than 70lbs to become the image of health she is today.
Before and after: Fitness guru Jennifer Nicole Lee weighed 200lbs after the birth of her second child. She shed more than 70lbs to become the beach babe she is today but she said it certainly didn't happen overnight
The weight loss champion told Foxnews.com that she had to 'let go of wanting my weight loss success to happen overnight.'
The fitness author and former Ms Bikini America said her biggest challenge was letting go of excuses.
She said: 'I banished all the myths and got real with myself... all the excuses such as "I don’t have enough time" or "it's expensive to live healthy."
I also had a hard time giving myself the gift of time as I wanted to see the results instantly.'
What a change: Another photograph, taken during her incredible weight loss journey, shows how she changed
The Miami-based bikini babe, who has appeared on the cover of more than 40 magazines, had been fed up with being out of shape especially once she had two children to care for.
She said: 'Being a new mom really hit me hard... I was sick and tired of being fat with little to no energy.
'I made a commitment to learn everything possible about how super fitness models and serious athletes ate and trained.'
Now known as a fitness guru after publishing several books, releasing a swimwear line as well as workout DVDs, she learned to focus on persistence rather than looking perfect.
Working it: She has created her own workout of 'doable' exercises that she believes all mothers can try
It landed her a spot on Oprah where she encouraged other mothers to take her lead.
She said: 'We, as moms, suffer from wanting the best for everyone but we must aim to put ourselves back on our to-do list.'
During the early stages of her weight loss, she put a large emphasis on building strength as opposed to shedding fat, telling Fox: 'Women, especially moms, must rate their health level on how strong they are mentally, emotionally and physically.
Hot mama: The mother of two, who is a shadow of her former self, said 'muscle tone is the fountain of youth'
'Being fit does not equal a size or being thin. But being strong means you are healthy and fit.'
She said it is common for women to set themselves weight loss goals without actually following through. Her training method, which has been titled JNL Fusion, focuses on 'doable' workout techniques.
New lifestyle: The former Ms Bikini America, seen her on St Patrick's Day in Los Angeles, has appeared on more than 40 magazine covers and on Oprah. She focuses on strength as opposed to cardio exercises
The successful business woman trains her clients to do 'six circuits of three sets of 30-second strength moves followed directly by 30-seconds of a body weighted cardio blast.'
It forces the metabolism to race up and down intensely, which helps to burn fat.
She said: 'I urge women to do more strength training than cardio as lean muscle tone is the fountain of youth.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2122829/I-sick-tired-fat-How-Jennifer-Nicole-Lee-went-200lbs-sizzling-hot-bikini-babe.html#ixzz1qddF3DQT
